5 Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Features You’ll Actually Care About

Today at IFA 2012, Samsung finally unveiled its new 5.5-inch phablet, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. The Galaxy Note 2 will replace the company’s original 5.3-inch Galaxy Note when it arrives in October and in the United States later this year.

At Samsung’s Unpacked event, the company went over lots of features that will be coming aboard the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. From its new 5.5-inch display, to its quad-core processor, to its 2GB of RAM and finally to its 8MP rear camera and 1.9MP camera, the Galaxy Note 2 features some tantalizing specifications.

While those are all great features, we feel like they aren’t at the top of the list in terms of what we think consumers will truly care about. That being said, here are five features from the Galaxy Note 2 that we think that prospective Galaxy Note 2 customers should really care about.

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

While initially we thought Samsung was going to go the route of the Galaxy Note 10.1 and release the Galaxy Note 2 with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the company instead decided to put Android 4.1 Jelly Bean on board, the likely reason why it’s not going to launch until October in Europe and in the U.S. later this year.

However, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean will be well worth the wait as it’s a vast improvement over Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

To start, Jelly Bean features a host of new features including Google Now, offline Voice dictation, an improved Gmail application, new camera settings, more Face Unlock functionality, and a whole lot more.

In addition, Galaxy Note 2 owners will appreciate and love the new user interface that is both quicker and smoother than the one found in Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 owners will also appreciate not having to wait for Samsung to bring the Galaxy Note 2 up to speed with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, much like its doing for Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note 10.1 owners.

4G LTE Data Speeds

Armed with its tablet-sized screen, its smartphone functionality and its S-Pen stylus, the Galaxy Note 2 is the ultimate companion for folks who are on the go. However, something needs to power those phone calls and that data and fortunately, the Galaxy Note 2 has the power of 4G LTE connectivity behind it.

4G LTE is quickly becoming the new cellular standard. It offers data speeds that are up to 10 times faster than those found on normal 3G which allows for smoother streaming of video, faster downloads, and a better overall mobile experience when Wi-Fi is not available.

AT&T, Sprint and Verizon all have high-speed 4G LTE networks in place and T-Mobile will have its network up and running in 2013.

New S-Pen Functionality

The old Galaxy Note’s S-Pen has been redesigned for the Galaxy Note 2 and it comes with a host of new features that should delight those who wish to take full advantage of the Galaxy Note 2’s different screen inputs.

The Galaxy Note 2’s S-Pen stylus is now both taller and thicker than the original while also boasting a new rubber tip. And while the design looks improved, its the new S-Pen features that future Galaxy Note 2 owners should care about.

Samsung has included a new feature called Quick Commands that easily lets Galaxy Note 2 users access a collection of commands by simply holding down the button of the S Pen and swiping up.

From there, a box will open up allowing Galaxy Note 2 owners to write a command to open email or contacts for instance.

In addition, the S-Pen now comes with two other new features including AirView and Pop Up Note. AirView is a way to view information without actually opening any content. Users can simply use the S-Pen to hover over something like a date in the S Planner for example and see all of the events for that day.

As for Pop Up Note, users will be able to open a small S Note window by just taking the S Pen out. Samsung used the example of taking notes while on a phone call though we expect that the feature will be available in other instances as well.

Massive Battery

One of the issues many people had with the original Galaxy Note was its battery life. It was decent, but it wasn’t good. Samsung heard the pleas from Note owners though and decided to pack a massive battery inside the Galaxy Note 2, even managing to slim down the design in the process.

The Galaxy Note 2 packs a bigger battery than the original.

The Galaxy Note 2 will sport a massive 3,100 mAh battery. That’s a little less than the 3,300 mAh battery found in the Droid RAZR MAXX, but still one of the biggest batteries ever to come inside a smartphone.

This means that it will be able to provide ample talk time and adequate battery life for tasks being done while away from the house. It may not offer true all day battery life but it will be substantial nonetheless.

16:9 Aspect Ratio

At the event, Samsung focused on the size of the Galaxy Note 2 display (5.5-inches) and its resolution which is 1280×720. Samsung only briefly touched over the 16:9 aspect ratio which we think is something that those looking into the Galaxy Note 2 will really like.

The Galaxy Note 2’s 16:9 aspect ratio is going to make movie watching on the Galaxy Note 2 a fantastic experience. It’s a widescreen format and it will allow for Galaxy Note 2 owners to view a much bigger picture then they are used to.

Often times, devices that don’t have this ratio – say for instance, Apple’s iPad – will display black bars when content is encoded in 16:9. A device like that the Galaxy Note 2 which sports this ratio will not only see smaller black bars when its displaying content but the picture should be much crisper and nicer to look at.

Good article, but you missed the most important feature – true multi-tasking that truly unleash the power of this big screen. Everyone around me is excited about it, and that’s why I am waiting for this release.

It’s so painful to wait and I am more than ready to get rid of my iPhone4s

The battery life is what prevents mobile devices from utilizing multitasking. Besides the arm processor isn’t very good at it. I would love to see GGPU utilization on future SOCs. It would make up a lot for the lack of power in ARMs and open up new possibilities in apps. But again limited by battery.

Had my first full day use with note 2, the battery life is simply amazing used my phone for solid 2 hrs morning and 4 hrs straight in the afternoon, surfing web, playing games and watching tv episodes and a film……after 6 hours heavy usage battery at 68%

Paul….congrats on your Note2! Do you think the 32G model will be sufficient for most users as compared to getting the 64G version? Since it does have an sd slot, I’m thinking 32 of internal memory probably will do me. What say you?

Samsung Baster (in a loving way), they holding back on the 32 and 64GB internal version. and offer the USA consumer left over. Baster… Yes, we can root and switch the extern to internal. But, would it be better to have both 64GB? I hope Sandisk come out with 128GB micro SD for cell phone.

I just wish this phone wasn’t so heavy. It weighs a TON! I’d love to have the 4G LTE speed (I do have AT&T) but in my hair salon, with that weight, i’d drop it every day. i could see it ending up in the Atlanta sewer.